Illuminable darning-last.



E. C. SMITH.

ILLUMINABLE DARNING 'LAST.

APPLICATION FILED APR. n. 1918.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY All 'tery, the upper end EDNA 0. SMITH, F CLIFTUN FORGE, VIRGINIA.

ILLUMINAJBLJE DARNING-LAST.

hpectfication of Letters Patent.

Patented new, rate.

Application filed April 11, 19-18. Serial No. 227,971.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDNA C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clifton Forge, in the county of Alleghany and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminable Darning-Lasts, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention is an illuminable darning last, more particularly adapted for the darning or repair of'hose, wherein the last is formed of such material that the last may be rendered luminous and the weave of the fabric visible for obtaining a better view of the process of repair and the proper darning of'the opening it is desired to close as well as to inspect doubtful portions of-the fabric.

.One object of the invention is to provide a darning last constructed of translucent or transparent material detachably secured to a handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handle adapted to receive and retain a source of electric energy such as a battery.

A further object of the invention is to provide the upper end of the handle with a hemispherical recess forming a reflector 'in which there is disposed a lamp socket to receive a lamp adapted to be energized by the battery for illuminating the last.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a last that may be renderedluminous so that work thereon may be more readily inspected.

Broadly stated, the invention comprises a hollow last formed of translucent or transparent material having an approximately ovoid shape, one end of which constitutes a stem having a threaded sleeve secured thereon, a hollow handle preferably tubular, capable of receiving and retaining therein a source of electric energy, such as a batof the handle being threaded, a cylindrical member interposed between the handle and the last and in threaded engagement therewith, the upper end of said member being provided with an electric lamp receiving socket surrounded by a hemispherical recess constituting a reflector, and means for connecting the terminals of the lamp with the battery terminals for illuminating the interior of the last, said means being capable of manual control.

()ne practical form of construction and assembly will be described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which The figure is a side elevation of the last and handle, the last and its connection with the handle being shown in section.

In the preferred embodiment about to be described, the last may have approximately an ovoid shape and, is preferably formed of material that will permit of-the last being rendered luminous. This material may be clear-glass, milk glass, or of some semitransparent substance such as porcelain. As shown the last 5 is hollow and a chamber A is formed therein. Projecting from one end of the last 5 is a stem 6 that is provided externally with a groove 7. This stem 6 is preferably hollow and communicates with.

the chamber A. Cooperatively connected with the stem 6 is a threaded and grooved sleeve S'that may be formed of metal.

This sleeve 8 is provided with a grooved portion 9 that is adapted to cooperate with and be-seated in the groove 7. The sleeve 8, as shown, projects downward beyond the end of the stem 6 and this projecting portion is provided with the threads 10. To cooperate with the threads 10 of the sleeve 8 there is provided a connecting member generally indicated at member is composed of a disk-like portion 11 having the threads 12 formed exteriorly thereof.

These threads 12 are adapted to cooperate and engage with the threads 10 of the sleeve 8. The upper end of the element 13 is provided with a hemispherical recess 13 that is adapted to serve as a reflector for the lamp 14. This lamp 14 is adapted to be'seated in the lamp socket v15 carried centrally of the recess 13. t

From the figure it will be seen that the lamp 14: pro ects in the usual manner through the socket lose that these terminals may be engaged by the circuit completing members 16 and 17. The memberiB projects downward in a threaded sleeve like portion indicated at 18. The threads being continuous with the threads 12 as shown. The

sleeve portion 18 affords a space in which the terminals of the lamp and its base may project so as to be engaged by the circuit completing members 16 and 17. The sleeve 18 is provided internally with threads 19 that are adapted to engage with the threaded upper end 20 of the handle portion C.

B. This connecting lltltll This sleeve 20, as shown, projects within the sleeve 18. The .handle C is preferably hollow and is adapted to receive a suitable source of electric energy such as the battery 21. Any suitable means may be employed for manually opening and closing the circuit to the lamp through the members 16 and 17 from the battery 21, one means being indicated at 22. From the description given of the preferred embodiment it will be seen that the chamber A will be illuminated by the rays from the lamp 14 and thus the interior of the last 5 will be made bright.

This will render the last 5 luminous and will greatly facilitate the operation of darning. This will be evident when darning materials having a fine mesh or having a dark color. The usual type of last commonly employed in the household requires two to be on hand. This means that a light colored one and a dark colored one are required for the usual darning purposes so that if the fabric is light colored the dark last is used, While with the dark colored fabric, the light colored last is used. Usually these lasts are either solid or opaque, and the weave or openings to be darned are only seen by refiected light.

The foregoing description and the draw-.

ings have reference to what may be conside'red the preferred, or approved, form of my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Anilluminable last, which comprises a hollow portion having an approximately ovoid shape with a tubular stem projectin therefrom, a handle having a threaded end and formed to receive a source of electric energy, a cylindrical member threaded to engage with the tubular stem and the handle, said member having one lateral face formed with a hemispherical recess, a lamp receiving socket centrally disposed in the recess, and a lamp in said socket and having its terminal disposed to connect with the source of electric energy.

2. A device of the character described, which comprises a last formed of glass, a

threaded sleeve rigidly secured to thelast,

a handle having a threaded end and formed to contain an electric battery, a connecting member having threaded ends adapted to cooperate and engage with the threaded sleeve of the last and the threaded end of the handle, said member being rovided with an electric lamp receiving soc et and a reflector for a lamp, a lamp for said socket, and means for manually controlling the lighting andextinguishin of the lamp.

3. A darning last having approximately an ovoid shape, a handle for said last, a threaded connection for detachably uniting the last to the handle, said connection com prising a cylindrical member having a threaded disk-like portion serving as a lamp receiving socket surrounded by a reflector and a threaded sleeve portion projecting from the disk-like portion, the threads of both portions being continuous.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I EDNA C. SMITH.

Witnesses:

J. H. DREWRY, W. K. SMITH. 

